Jurgen Klopp reveals why he sent Mamadou Sakho home in shame

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has revealed why he sent Mamadou Sakho home from the club’s pre-season tour of America and it seems and if he has well and truly lost patience with the bad-boy defender.

Sakho was filmed in what appeared to be a jovial exchange with his manager as he interrupted an interview with Klopp on a visit to Alcatraz, inspiring the German to suggest he may be tempted to leave the French player in the infamous jail.

At the time, it seemed as if this was a moment of fun between manager and player, but it is clear that Klopp did not see the funny side of what was the latest indiscretion from a player who failed a drugs test back in April.

UEFA eventually cleared Sakho of wrongdoing after his positive test, but his reintegration into the Liverpool first team did not go well, as he was ordered home from their pre-season trip to the States.

Now Klopp has revealed why Sakho has fallen out of favour, in comments that cast a huge cloud over his future at Liverpool.

“He nearly missed the departure of the plane, he missed a session and was late for a meal,” stated Klopp.

“We have some rules and we have to respect them. If somebody doesn’t respect it or somebody gives me the feeling he is not respecting it then I have to react that’s all.

“I have to build a group here, we have to start new here. So I thought maybe it made sense for him to fly home to Liverpool and after eight or 10 days when we come back we can talk about it. It’s not that serious.

“It is private how he reacted, but we had no argument, it wasn’t ‘aghh, you, no...’.

“I spoke. You cannot argue when only one person is speaking. That’s all.

“I think missed a session is missed a session. Even injured players have sessions.”

Klopp’s stance was a clear indication that he will not accept ill-discipline from any of his players, with Sakho now set for showdown talks with his manager ahead of the new Premier League season.